Identification and fingerprint camera



' Nbv. 1950 w. T. CIRONE 2,530,758

IDENTIFICATION AND FINGERPRINT CAMERA 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 24, 1949 INIfENTOR.

30 Will/am 7'. 0/50/18 Nov. 21, 1950 w. T. CIRQN: 2,530,758

IDENTIFICATION AND FINGERPRINT CAMERA Filed Jan. 24, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2.

JIYVENTOR. W1 I] 10m 71 G/rqne BY WWW Z? M1 Nov. 21-, 1950 w. 'r. CIRONE 2,530,753

IDENTIFICATION AND FINGERPRINT CAMERA Filed Jan. 24, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 n 22 50 giflfllb: 30

IE 9 42 mil 5 52 .....||||l|||| Fig.4.

I NVENTOR. W/Iham T. GIro e Fig. 5.

Patented Nov. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AND FINGERPRIN-T AMERA "William '1. Ciro'ne, Yuma, A'rim, assignor of seventy-five per cent to Photocheck Company,

IDENTIFICATIgN Yuma, Ariz.

14 Claims.

'This invention relates to improvements in photographic apparatus of the dual type and -has for'its primary object to simultaneously record dataalon'g with the pictur'e'andfingerprints of an individual on a single photo-sensitized surface.

Thus theprimary aimandpurpose ofth'is' invention is to provide a device by which the image of a person'ma'y be 'reproduced and'the' fingersof the person may bereproduce'd to make the fingerprints of record, alongwith 'a copy of a data sheet containing information concerning the person orany other type of written matter on a single-"strip of photo-sensitized material without resetting orfocusing the camera' for each of the subjects.

Another object of this-invention is" to construct a camera which will si'multaneously record or enable simultaneous photographs to be taken tliroughdifierent lens structures, the action of each lens being unobstructed by-the other and both lens being used to'photograph directly on the film.

"A meritorio'us feature of this invention resides in the provision of a camera box havinga pair of 1enses, one of which 'is' focusedon a part of the film to impose on" the adjacent portion'of the sensitized film a photographic imprint of aperson's face, the otherlens being focused on an adjacent portion of the film for imposing'on the film a photographicimprint of -objects inserted into the box, namely, written' matter and the fingels of the person, the ima'ges being imposed on the filmby simultaneous'actionof both lenses on different parts of the film.

Another meritorious feature of'this-invention resides in the provision of a plurality of-finger slots adapted' to receive the fingers of' an individual, switches being disposed in each of theslots and actuated by the'fingertips of the'individual when the fingers are entirely placed within-the slots, the switches completingan' operating circuit for the shutters for the camera so that the camera will not operate until all'of the finger switches are closed.

These and ancillary objects an'd other structural features of merit are attained by this invention, a preferred embodiment of which is'set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawingswherein:

Figure 1 is a 'view' in Perspective of a camera constructed in accordance'with-the principles of the instant invention;

Figure 2'is-a verticalsectional view taken-on a transverse plan line 2- -2-of Flgure-1;

'Figure .3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View taken on lined- 3 of '1 igure-2;

Figure 4 is a bottom p'lan view, with thebase plate removed;

Figure 5 is aflongitudinal'sectional view taken on' line 5 5 of Figure "2;

"Figure '6 is an enlarged detail-\Iiewof the dual lenses, shown generally in Figures 2 and 3;

Figure '7 is an enlarged detail view of one of the circuit switches disposed in each of the finger slots;

Figure B'isa diagrammatic wiring view;

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail view takenon line 99 of Figure 4,and,

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on line Iii-l0 of Figure 9.

In'manyinstances, it is desirable to ha've a single permanent record of an individual together with written matter. Thus, an individual can be positively identified by'having'his fingerprints and facial characteristics and certain legal documents recorded on a single strip of film or on a single photo-sensitized surface.

One of the uses of the instant invention isto record bank transactions so that the camera would be positioned on the shelf of a tellers cage anda customer of the bank having a check cashed would drop the check into a slotiormed in the casing and would position'hisfingers in the finger slots in ,thecasing. The customer would be standing directly in front of the casing and the tellerwould then throw a master switch, whereupon, the finger'switches'being closed by contact with the fingertips, a light bulb would be illuminated in the casing and the dual lenses would impose the image of the individualsface, the fingertips and the check on adjacent sections of-the single photo-sensitized surface. It can be appreciated that-such a picture would enable the bank to have the-facial impression, fingerprints and-photograph of'the check, constituting the transaction for reference in case ofdefa-ult-or-in the event of other reference purposes.

The primary aim and purpose of'this inven tion is to discourage forgery and'a passing of bogus checks and also, toreduce the amount of space needed for storing reference matter. In thelatter respect, banks conventionally photograph checks dur-ingbookkeeping operations and also maintain a file forreference in case of defaults. However, with a camera constructed in accordancewith this invention moreinformation of a more positive 'nature or positive identifying nature would be available and could be filed in a more convenient manner and would 3 require less space than that employed at the present.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the camera I includes a base I2 having a bottom wall I4 and opposed side and end walls I6. An upright rectangular back section I8 is formed integrally with the base along with a front arcuately shaped section 20.

A pair of upright spindles 22 and 24 are mounted in diagonally opposed corners of the bottom wall to rotatably support a pair of reels or spools 26 and 28. A standard 16 mm. film 30 is carried by the reel 26 and wound onto the reel 28, after being exposed, by means of a motor 30. A pulley 32 is fixed on the armature shaft of the motor and is drivingly connected with the reel 28 by means of a pulley 34 associated with the reel and a cross connecting belt 36. The film is carried through a camera mechanism 38, to be later described. At the opposing ends of the camera mechanism are mounted brackets 40 and 42 having raised unattached ends 44 and 45 to which are vertically journaled guide rollers 48, the film being trained around the guide rollers, which enable the film to be advanced through the camera mechanism in a straight line to avoid ripping of the film or jamming of the mechanism.

Means is provided for moving the film through the camera mechanism, one sensitized section at a time and includes a pair of opposed guide rails 59 and 52 mounted in parallelism on the bottom wall adjacent the camera mechanism. A rack bar 54 is slidably and freely disposed between the guide bars or tracks and is anchored at one end by means of a spring 55. A drive sha;t 58 is associated with the motor 30 and a gear 60 is threaded on the extending end thereof in intermeshing relation with the teeth of the rack bar for sliding the same forwardly in the track way in opposition to the urgement of the spring 38. The gear 60 is disposed in threaded engagement with the shaft so that the motor will be energized but a drive connection will not be established to the rack bar until a lapse of time sufficient for the operation of the shutters and camera mechanism to be described. A shaft 62 is journaled in a horizontal position on the bottom plate by means of U-shaped bearing brackets 64. A gear 66 is carried by one end of the shaft and disposed in meshing relation with the rack bar, so that movement of the rack bar through the drive shaft carried by the motor will impart rotation to the shaft 62. In the latter respect, it is to be noted that the gear 86 is freely disposed on the end of the shaft and the rotation of the gear is imparted to the shaft by means of a ratchet l0 fixed on the shaft adjacent the inner surface of the gear and a dog pivotally carried by the gear 60 and disposed in engagement with the ratchet. It can be appreciated that the particular type of intermittent drive is necessary in order to insure that the film is carried from the unwinding spool to the take-up spool, since a reversal of the winding order would result in a double exposure of the film already exposed. A pair of complementary gears '14 and I8 are journaled on the central portion of the shaft in engagement with the opposing longitudinally extending marginal perforations in the film. A similar shaft i8 is rotatably journaled by means of bearings 80 and disposed parallel with the shaft 62, film engaging gears 82 being disposed on the shaft. A chain 8d is trained around pulley gears carried by the extending ends of the shafts for dlivingly connecting the shaft 78 with the shaft 62.

The film engaging and driving gears carried by the two shafts are enclosed within a rectangular housing 88, having the upper end thereof open and the upper edges of the walls being covered with resilient or protective material 90. A film aligning and dividing member 92 is formed with a transverse centrally disposed divider bar 94, so that the film positioned in alignment with the lens action is divided into two adjoining spaces, each of the spaces being vertically aligned with one of the lenses, as will be later described. The member 92 is mounted above the film driving gear by means of U-shaped end brackets 96 and 98, which have their laterally disposed ends mounted on the bottom wall.

A baflle I00 is disposed transversely in the casing and is formed with a horizontally positioned central portion I02. The baffle forms a lighttight compartment in the base, within which the foregoing mechanism is mounted. A standard and conventional lens I04 is mounted in the horizontal portion I02 of the baflie and a lens I06 is disposed adjacent thereto. The lens I06 is of a standard construction and adapted for distant focusing. The lens I04 is conventionally constructed and is adapted for photographing fingerprints so that the fingerprints can be read. Both of the lenses are connected by a shutter operating bar I08 secured to the shutter bars H0 and II 2 projecting laterally from the lenses. The shutter bar I08 is provided to simultaneously operate the shutters and is actuated by a solenoid I60. A plurality of telescopically arranged tubes II4' are associated with the lens I06 and extend upwardly therefrom. An inner tube IIG terminates in an angularly disposed magnifying lens H3 protruding outwardly of the casing. Of course, the tubes have disposed therein the necessar prisms and reflecting surfaces conventionally placed and formed to transmit an image to the lens and film. Thus, by means of the lens H8 and tubes H4 and the lens I06 the image of an individual can be focused on the film. Of course, suitable locking means will be provided for maintaining the tubes in the desired raised positions for focusing on a person's face, depending upon the height of the person. A pair of diagonally disposed transparent plates I20 and I22 are secured to the back wall of the casing and disposed in alignment with a slot I24 formed longitudinally in the top Wall of the rear section I8. Written matter, such as a check or the like I 20 can be dropped into the slot and inserted between the plates, with the written side superimposed on the plate I20, so that the written matter is within the focal range of the lens I04. A microswitch I2I is located at the inner ends of the plates and is located in the circuit I'II so that the motor and solenoid can be simultaneously energized but the two will operate separately and sequentially in order to prevent any exposure of the film as it is being moved.

A plurality of finger openings I28 are disposed transversely in the front section 20, the finger openings being in alignment with finger accommodating tubes I30 protruding interiorly of the casing. Each of the tubes is provided with a rectangular cut-out portion I32 through which the fingers of the individual can be focused on matter I25 and the fingers of an individual dis-v posed through the slots I32.

' ing The 7 tubes v er is y en winge -me ias .as'a is w h "th ,fln' e tipsj i ntl v idua engage tb force the nlungr inwardly of the "Gasc a e m di w h S -2 K a v 1 'l'm'fai i flgf avi g n i ul'y liglied Central (ip'enings, within which the W wh h t ffida edc 11:0 fi l e f e m lineniber i156 havingitslengiinserted in "t teen. irigfcr ,v q'ihthe p (in 'oyfend f'w allfl fl, A

Thecdhtactrnem jfiflarecarried in'spaced 'g'rmii gfor ation by {a pai "bf 'arcuate bars" is; and l 55' secured 'to' the inner surface of the front 'wantfithe eas ng. a A H i ittention is'ndwfdijctedjtofthe diagram of the 'wir'ing circuit'for thef's'hutter actuator for siini iltanedi'iislybpei'atingthe two lensesh'ndffor the'mdtefand film threadingand Winding 'r'ne'cha ewe-te thei eb v, I t ltf' is t be hp'ted'that tl' e'jsolenoid lfin and the njioter 13"0 aiiedisposed in separate circuits'which me r'cii ctii't IT? and c'irciiitl'lifferl the solenoid. 'It is 'tc'he heted't at thefinger switches 1.25am the niic i dswitch I'IZ'I ,"di'spesed at the inner edges the deyice, after the hand jswitch I10 is closed. heftiife sta'te' dfivheh the fingerswitches 1'35 and the cheek sw teh arei nosed, "the circuit is comp fteand the sbl eriqidis energized, whereby the slilitter bar is actuatedahdjthe film is "exposed, thejlatter receivingfthe'g iinagesioi the check, the 'ia'gr gariej the" face df" an individual. During the pber'ati cin 'jof the shutter, liar and camera rnehenis'rnjthe meter is energized so that the rive shaft is rctating, the gear to moving inward y tea binding pds'ition. I The slip clutch arrangement pi evide'd enables" the motor to be'wired 'inth'e saine 'cii'cnit fwith'the sbleneidfwhfereby thedi'o'ppingof the check in theslot and'the insertionpf fingers in the openings jactnatesall of the r' nechanisriis As the. Eea 'so approaches the motor 30, th'e'fil mfhas been"ekposed,"so that the 'gearf ahjitsf ag'ainst'a switch, I BQand the solenoid ci'r' it isishun'jtedoutirrom nhe p'owersouree I66.

Thei notdr thenfunc'tions'thrtingh the gear to n'ove the r 'khar upwardly; against the urgenie'ntibfthesining. Thesliding' rnovem'ent of the jack: bar; is translated into a sliding movement Qf'thefilm, through the'geais and shafts. 7 when the fajck b ar appreaches"theterminatingpqint ef. its mci'vement, it qvesfa'gain'st a switch I82, so" that theswitchflistipenedjfand the circuit for themetbn is 01 11): out. Thus itifcan be seen that when the fshiit'ter mechanism is; operating, the

i'n'dtkir, though energized and "working, is not d rivv ingly associated with the fihn threading mechanism un l t fife f 'fl isi 'n v inw l 7 1 t' "ejto th'e motor. "Atithattime, the'gear abuts ,faiga'inst the switch, and shunts cut the circuit 'pc'suiept thejmm is 'thefbyavoidd and' fyet, fthesa'me circuit can'be employed for all pf the fmoying mechanis' ms and, den be Controlled, thitoligh the finger; and checkewitches. This "will Q a ,i t fl' yf p gated hytheiisenand wm avoid the necessity of"h'av' v fepei'atdr fanet nny siiperviiif the WQfkiiig er the j'dvi'e oeeeu -se, lamp T34 I h l p n cv'ethe baflle and 'l'ocatew'aidjaent to M ger tubes. "Aflarnp IBJis 'tvii'ed in the I IIQtO I ltfiiljcl l'it, sb that the bulb, WhichfiS disbbe'ed in f e housing 163 disposed {at the "frbnt 'of the jcasing will end 'i ibserveis to knew thatthe device ndfi ff na c Thus, it ea'n beseen that this device can "be *mp'leye'cl for m y varied 'pnrbds'e's, 'it'heing primarily "intended fer use in a bank. In ench use, itfis'th'oiight that thed'evic'e damn b e 'p'bsi tieneden the shelf" of a tellersfcag'e and'the teller would initially threw the inanual switch T10. 'ljhereafter, custo'mi s taming t6 the telle fs cage with weaks, would "drop the cheeks *mthe s1 and would 7 position their 'fin'gefs in *the finger tiibes. I Sjih aaio wwm "clds'e the "resin etiiie switehes anathe solenoid "would be enei'giid, whereby the 1 pictures "vi qii l d "be taken. Then, the person would r enfet' 'e their fingers from th'e'slbt's, breaking the ireuit "for the 'sol'enbid, v If the "in- 'diviqualf in'qmentarily fbr'gbt to renibvehis firiis, thes'oleho id ciicuit still wbuld bebrblih by'the switch IB U, hich is actuated bythe sliding g'efar. The motor, th oughtheielip'elutch drive arrangeinfent, "vyeulcl mo've the film, inoiiing the exbbsed sectiQn of sensitized film out of alignment with the lens'actien and placing a newsctibntherein. It can be appreciated, therefore that a novel anc l use fnl device has been provided that will 'silnult'aneoiisly 'ecerd facial [characteristics of a person and oth er data 61' ebjects. U

However, while o'n'e embodiment bf this in- Veritiqn has been shown, it "is to "be underst'bo'd that certain ether eir'ihodiments tan be earned net, as s eming Within 'thespirit andscdb'e 'o'fthe appended claims. v

Having desciibedthe inventidnfwhat isclai'rned "as newis: v r

"In an ot e phi a baratus, fa casing-m lens 'disp'dsed in said casing, a "second lensfidispose cl adjacent said firstfl'ens, extensible niea'ns mennted in the casing "above 'said sec'dnd lens for 'r eceivin g infa ges dispdsdexteriei'ly of the casing and reflecting 'them onf'tdthe second lens, 'shntte'x s'for saidflenses, tneans fbr'simultaneously actuating said s l lntte fs, a plurality of tubes disiaosed "in said c as'irjng fqr receiving *th'e" fingers of an individual and having "ciit'ont ifiditibns to eggpoee the tips o f finge 'e ins'erted therein, switches d pos'd insaiti tnbeshnd adaptedtd be "closed. by "the fingextip's of'an individual, -said switches being adapted to centrql an operating circuit for saidfnean's for actuating the shutters.

2. jIn a photdgraphic I paratus, a casing a lens disppsed in said casing; "a second sposed "adjacent saicl firstlens, means mounted above said fs'e'cenqlens and 'dispesegl extefierly of the casing 01 reflecting images ento the lens, sh'utte 's I or sai'd lenses, asole noid i or Simultan'ens l y actuating the shutters, 'a 'p'luralit'yf bf tubes lispsed 'in theca sihg and Iqoi'tiohedwithin'thef'o'calQrangeof the second lens fcr i'edeiving the fingersptan individual, and having cut- 'outpo'rtiens tefex'pose the tips 6f fingers inseited therein means'lin saigiftuhes for controllingsaid 'selenpi'd, saigilnieans being'bperated bythe fingertips of'anjindividnal,

3. In a'[phqtographic 1apparat1is, casingQ a lens dis'pesed in saicl "casing, "a s'ecq'nd lens disposed "adjacent gsaid first flens ja p'ei iscope .T qvlesle' qis wnq ee "andi tj n' exteriorly of the-casing, shi tte'rs mete-w fle'ii s mounted in the casing, means for simultaneously actuating said shutters, a film trackway in said casing and positioned below said lenses, means for sequentially moving film through said trackway, a plurality of horizontally disposed finger tubes in said casing overlying said first lens and having cut-out portions formed in their inner ends to expose the tips of fingers inserted therein, a transparent housing mounted in said casing and positioned within the focal range of the first lens, a circuit connected to a source of electrical energy, switch means operatively mounted in said tubes for controlling said circuit, said shutter actuating means and simultaneously said film moving means being connected to said circuit and operated through control of the circuit.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said film moving means includes a prime mover, drive transmitting means connected thereto and including a sliding rack bar and complementary gear driven by the prime mover, a slip clutch arrangement between said gear and prime mover, a switch actuated by said gear for shuntin said shutter actuating means out of the circuit and a switch actuated by the rack bar for breaking said circuit.

5. The combination of claim 3, wherein said switch means in the tubes includes fixed contacts and movable contacts operated by the finger tips of an individual placed Within the tubes, means for breaking the engagement of the contacts upon release of the finger pressure.

6. In a photographic apparatus, a casing, a first lens mounted in said casing, a second lens mounted in said casing adjacent to said first lens, means mounted above the second lens and projecting exteriorly of the casing for reflecting exterior images onto the lens, shutters for said lenses, means for simultaneously actuating said shutters, a plurality of horizontally disposed finger tubes in said casing overlying the first lens and having openings formed adjacent their inner ends to expose the tips of inserted fingers to the first lens, a transparent housing in said casing and positioned within the focal range of the first lens, and means in said tubes for controlling the actuating means for the shutters.

7. In a photographic apparatus, a casing, a first lens mounted in said casing, a second lens mounted in said casing adjacent to said first lens, means mounted above the second lens and projecting exteriorly of the casing for reflecting exterior images onto the lens, shutters for said lenses, means for simultaneously actuating said shutters, a plurality of horizontally disposed finger tubes in said casing overlying the first lens and having cut-out portions to expose the finger tips of an individual to the lens, a transparent housing in said casing and positioned within the focal range of the first lens, and means mounted in said tubes for controlling the actuating means for the shutters, said means being reactive to pressure of fingers placed in the tubes.

8. In a photographic apparatus, a casing, a first lens mounted in said casing, a second lens ,mountedin said casing adjacent to said first lens, means mounted above the second lens and projecting exteriorly of the casing for reflecting ex- :terior images onto the lens, shutters for said ilenses, means for simultaneously actuating said shutters, a plurality of horizontally disposed :finger tubes in said casing overlying the first lens and having cut-out portions for exposing the tips of fingers inserted in the tubes, a transparent housing in said casing and positioned within the focal range of the first lens, means-for moving film below said lenses and means for controlling the actuating means for the shutters and the film moving means, said last means being mounted in the tubes and operable, upon the positioning of fingers of an individual in the tubes.

9. In a photographic apparatus, a casing, a pair of lenses mounted in the casing, shutters for said lenses, a solenoid simultaneously actuating said shutters, means mounted below the lenses and operable for moving unexposed frames of film into position below the lenses for exposure, a plurality of finger tubes in said casing overlying one of the lenses and having cut-out portions to expose the finger tips of an individual and means in said tubes operable upon the positioning of fingers of an individual in the tubes for controlling said solenoid and film moving means.

10. In a photographic apparatus, a casing, a pair of lenses mounted in the casing, shutters for said lenses, a solenoid simultaneously actuating said shutters, means mounted below the lenses and operable for moving unexposed frames of film into position below the lenses for exposure, a plurality of finger tubes in said casing overlying one of the lenses and having openings formed in the lower portions thereof adjacent their inner ends to expose the tips of fingers inserted therein and means in said tubes operable upon the positioning of fingers of an individual in the tubes for controlling said solenoid and film moving means, said film moving means being operable in sequence to the solenoid and means controlling said sequential operation.

11. In a photographic apparatus, a casing, a pair of lenses mounted in the casing, shutters for said lenses, a solenoid simultaneously actuating said shutters, means mounted below the lenses and operable for moving unexposed frames of film into position below the lenses for exposure, a plurality of finger tubes in said casing overlying one of the lenses and having cut-out portions to expose the finger tips of an individual, an operating circuit for said solenoid and film moving means connected to a source of electrical energy, switch means for said circuit mounted in the tubes and operable reactive to finger pressure to control said circuit.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein said switch means are arranged in series.

13. In a photographic apparatus, a casing, a pair of lenses mounted in the casing, shutters for said lenses, a solenoid simultaneously actuating said shutters, means mounted below the lenses and operable for moving unexposed frames of film' into position below the lenses for exposure, a plurality of finger tubes in said casing overlying one of the lenses and having cutout portions to expose the inserted finger tips of an individual within the focal range of one of the lenses, an operating circuit for said solenoid and film moving means connected to a source of electrical energy, and switch means for said circuit in said finger tubes.

14. In a photographic apparatus, a casing, a pair of lenses mounted in the casing, shutters for said lenses, a solenoid simultaneously actuating said shutters, means mounted below the lenses and operable for moving unexposed frames of film into position below the lenses for exposure, a plurality of finger tubes in said casing overlying one of the lenses and having cut-out portions to expose the inserted finger tips of an individual within the local range of one of the lenses, a

transparent housing in said casing disposed within the focal range of one of the lenses, an operating circuit for said solenoid and film movin means connected to a source of electrical energy and switch means in said tubes and housing and connected in series in thecircult, said switches being operable to control the circuit.

WILLIAM T. CIRONE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Pino July 3, 1906 Number Number 

